Extra Time May 5

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Friday, May 5, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

PANTHER RUMBLINGS

HOOK'S NEW DEAL » Despite Penrith’s worrying start to the

season the club is in the early stages of drafting up an extended contract offer for coach Anthony Griffin (pictured). The former Broncos mentor had a sensational start to his tenure at Penrith last year when he coached the side to the Finals, but it’s been a tougher road so far in 2017.

Despite that, both the Board and senior management at the club are confident that Griffin is a long-term coach at Penrith and will be looking to extend his contract beyond the 2018 season. Griffin’s winning record as a coach, which sat at 54.3 per cent at the start of the year, is taking a battering this year but with four Finals appearances behind him (three at Brisbane and one at Penrith) he has the credentials to indicate he will eventually get the results everyone desires.

» The future of five-eighth Te Maire

Martin at Penrith is very clouded. He played in reserve grade last weekend and there is nothing to suggest he’ll return to the NRL when Penrith play the Warriors at Pepper Stadium next weekend. Ironically, Martin’s future may well be at the Warriors with the Kiwi club looking for a replacement for Kieran Foran, who is headed back to Sydney next year. While the Panthers have publicly denied there’s any suggestion Martin is on his way out, I’d be very surprised if he’s still playing in a Penrith jumper beyond the next few months.

» Panthers boss Phil Gould is hopeful

that Malakai Watene-Zelezniak finds a permanent spot in first grade now that he’s signed with the Wests Tigers. The 25-year-old, who made his long-awaited first grade debut for Penrith against Souths earlier this year, has joined the Tigers immediately. “Malakai is a perfect example of time and patience in the Panthers development systems,” Gould said. “He has worked really hard for a long period of time to develop into the player he is today. We could never deny him this opportunity to secure a full-time NRL contract with another club. We wish

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with the Masked Panther

Malakai all the luck in the world and we will follow his career with interest.”

» Someone who could be joining WateneZelezniak at the Wests Tigers is Peta Hiku.

I can reveal that the Tigers have made an approach to Hiku that could see him exit his deal with Penrith early; possibly even this year. Hiku faces an uncertain future at Penrith, but is signed until the end of the 2018 NRL season.

» The Panthers have parted ways with

Melissa Kingston, who worked in the club’s sponsorship and corporate team.

Kingston is the wife of former Panthers hooker, Kevin Kingston.

» Penrith will be wearing a special Indig-

enous jersey against the Warriors next weekend. The jersey was designed by former first grade player and Indigenous Welfare Officer, Glen Liddiard, and is an artistic tribute to the Indigenous history, geography and culture of the Penrith region. You can read more about the history of the jersey and the design on the official Panthers website.

» The representative round has come at

the perfect time for the Panthers. A huge number of players will be involved in rep duties and while there’s a worrying risk of injury, the general feeling around the camp was that the players needed to get away for a few days and then re-group.

It’s also allowed coach Anthony Griffin the opportunity to think hard about his next move, with the Warriors game in Round 10 emerging as a do-or-die encounter for the Panthers. I’m expecting Griffin to name a new-look side for the Warriors clash, mainly focused around positional changes.

» The players weren’t the only ones who spent an extended time in Queensland last week. The club’s membership team also spent some time in the northern state, chatting with Panthers fans and building a stronger rapport. The club has a good support base in Brisbane.

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» The crowd wasn’t big but some Panther » Spotted: Panthers Chairman Dave pride was definitely on show at the Legends Sports Bar in Hawaii last week.

Two long-time Panthers fans cheered the boys on in the early hours of the morning, along with a couple of Broncos fans who had also stumbled across the dated but pro-NRL pub.

O’Neill and coach Anthony Griffin deep in thought, watching on as Penrith’s ISP side battled Blacktown Workers Sea Eagles at Blacktown last weekend. It’s good to see two senior people at the club taking such a strong interest in reserve grade and cheering on the boys.

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troy dodds

I

t’s the conundrum that has been talked about for years, but always quietly brushed aside. From Ivan Cleary to Anthony Griffin, the general message has always been the same – not yet.

But the time has now come. Matt Moylan needs to shift from fullback to five-eighth and start the next chapter in his first grade career.

For a while now we’ve been happy with the fact that while Moylan wears the number 1 on his back, he is essentially a de facto half given the role he plays in attack.

In the last few weeks, however, it has been evident that Moylan offers much more as a play making number six than he does at fullback.

As each game goes by, it is becoming more and more obvious that Moylan doesn’t offer the potent impact from fullback that others in the competition do.

It is having a damaging result on Penrith’s start to sets and the side’s point scoring ability is suffering as a result.

Laurie Daley saw it and despite his inexperience in the role at club level named Moylan at five-eighth for the Blues last year. He did a stellar job.

A lot changes in 12 months and when Moylan was on the back of a ripping Jamie Soward pass, the current setup worked well. Soward is long gone, however, and Moylan doesn’t get the service from his inexperienced halves combination that he used to.

Moving Moylan into the halves also has some significant flow-on effects. It could possibly allow Dallin Watene-Zelezniak to fulfil a long-held desire to play fullback.

That frees up a wing spot, potentially for Dylan Edwards, a talented back who the Panthers will struggle to keep if they can’t find him a permanent first grade spot.

Watene-Zelezniak at fullback, Edwards and Josh Mansour on the wings, Waqa Blake and Dean Whare in the centres, Moylan and Nathan Cleary in the halves.

Griffin can then carry Tyrone Peachey on the bench for impact in the forwards or as a replacement for a back should injury hit.

I’m not a coach, and moving Moylan to five-eighth is hardly a light bulb moment, but after talking about it for years, I feel the time has finally come for Moylan to follow the Darren Lockyer career trajectory that so many suggest awaits him, and make the switch sooner rather than later.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 5, 2017

The time has come for Moylan to start a new chapter

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Friday, May 5, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

COME AND MEET COME AND MEET

THE PANTHERS THE PANTHERS WEDNESDAY, W EDNESDAY, 12 12THH A APRIL PRIL McDonald’s M Mc cD Do on na ald ld’ss P Penrith en e nrith ritth ri hL Leagues ea g ea gu ue ess T Ti ime me: 6.30pm-7.30pm 6.30 6 6. .3 30pm 30 0pm pm-7 7.3 .30p 0 pm 0pm Time:

WEDNESDAY, 10TH MAY

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TH WEDNESDAY, W ETime: DNE6.30pm-7.30pm SDAY, 5TH JJULY ULY

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WEDNESDAY, 19TH JULY McDonald’s Werrington

WEDNESDAY, W EDTime: NES6.30pm-7.30pm DAY, 19 19THH JJULY ULY McDonald’s M Mc cDo Don na a ald ld’s ld ’s Werrington Wer erri ring rin ng gto to n to ton Tiim T me e: 6.30pm-7.30pm 6.30 6. .30 30p pm m--7 7.3 30p 0 pm Time:

WEDNESDAY, 9TH AUGUST

McDonald’s Penrith Leagues Time: WEDNESDAY, W EDN ESD6.30pm-7.30pm AY, 9TTHH A AUGUST UGUST McDonald’s M Mc cDo Dona Dona nalld d’s d’ ’s P Penrith enrriith en th L Leagues ea e agu agu gues es Ti T im me e: 6.30pm-7.30pm 6..30 6 30p pm pm-7 m-7 7.3 30 0p pm Time:

WEDNESDAY, 23RD AUGUST

McDonald’s Penrith High St RD WEDNESDAY, W EDNTime: ESD6.30pm-7.30pm AY, 23 23RD A AUGUST UGUST McDonald’s McDo Mc M cD cDo Do ona nald lld’s d’s ’s P Penrith enrriith en th High Hig igh St St Ti T ime me: 6.30pm-7.30pm 6.30 6.

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PantherS ON DUTY NATHAN TAYLOR @natetaylor87

I

t hasn’t been the best of seasons for Penrith so far in 2017 but that hasn’t deterred selectors from choosing a whopping 19 Panthers players to compete in various fixtures during this weekend’s NRL Representative Round.

It all kicks off tonight at GIO Stadium in Canberra, with Panthers lock Trent Merrin to once again don the famous green and gold as he goes up against fellow club teammates Dean Whare and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the ANZAC Test.

Merrin’s selection in the Kangaroos team was controversial due to the forward’s slow start to the season but coach Mal Meninga was behind the 27-year-old.

Meninga said that given the short preparation, he and Kangaroos selectors had looked to reward those who played in the successful Four Nations campaign in 2016.

“Not only do these players have established combinations with each other, but they are also well aware of our values,” he said.

“However the State of Origin series and then the remainder of the NRL Premiership will be major considerations when we look to name our squad for the World Cup later this year.”

In the weekend’s other big match, Penrith will have five players involved in the final ever City v Country fixture this Sunday afternoon in Mudgee.

Panthers captain Matt Moylan along with Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright, James Tamou and Nathan Cleary will turn out for City while Country will have no Penrith representation after Dubbo product Isaah Yeo was made unavailable for selection due to injury.

On Monday morning selectors were finding it hard to even fill the City team due to so many unavailabilities – delaying the team announcement by nearly three hours.

Meanwhile, Panthers stars Waqa Blake and Viliame Kikau have been named in the Fijian side to face Tonga at Campbelltown Sports Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

The exciting pair will go up against fellow Panthers Leilani Latu, Sione Katoa and Samisoni Langi, who will turn out for Tonga in the Pacific Test.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 5, 2017

FEATURE

Bryce Cartwright will play for City again this weekend In other selection news, Panthers prop Stefano Hala has been named in the Junior Kangaroos side to face the Junior Kiwis in Canberra tonight.

The 18-year-old plays in Penrith’s competition-leading Holden Cup side and will line up against club teammate Jarome

Luai, who has been selected for the Junior Kiwis.

And finally, Dylan Edwards, Mitch Rein (since withdrawn), Tyrone May and Moses Leota were selected in the NSW Residents team to battle Queensland on Sunday afternoon.

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Friday, May 5, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

End of the road for a match with so much history

JAMIE SOWARD

T

he NRL’s Representative Round is back for another year and I must say I’m very excited for this weekend’s slate of games.

Firstly, I want to congratulate Kangaroos skipper Cameron Smith, who will play his 50th Test for Australia tonight – what an incredible achievement for a once in a generation player.

The ANZAC Test is always something you look forward to as a player and as a fan, and I think having it down in Canberra this year is really good for the game.

While New Zealand has named a very strong side, I think Australia will be too strong once again. The Kiwis haven’t got a great record in the ANZAC Test because the short preparation doesn’t suit them.

This time, however, they do boast the current Warriors spine, which will help them be competitive, but Australia is just too classy this time of year.

In the weekend’s other big game, City and Country will do battle for the final time.

I played two games for Country many, many years ago but the match has certainly changed since then. This couldn’t be more

evident than earlier this week when coach Brad Fittler was struggling to find players for his City side. Thankfully, Phil Gould came to the rescue and offered up five Panthers players to City.

We know come 6pm Sunday that City Country is dead for the time being but don’t be surprised if it’s revived one day down the track.

I’d hate to see them get rid of it altogether but I would like to see it reinvented where there’s a combination of Holden Cup players and fringe first graders playing.

This would stop teams from making their players unavailable for the game and it’ll give some young, up and comers a taste of rep footy.

I mentioned earlier that the Panthers will have plenty of representation in the City team but they’ll also be very well represented in multiple teams this weekend.

I think it’s a great thing for the club that so many players are involved this weekend as it allows them to get away from the norm and into a new environment, which it seems they need at the moment.

Getting away and hearing different voices of senior players and coaches for a week can really refresh you and excite you

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 5, 2017

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Penrith junior Brad Fittler playing for City, a team he now coaches, in 1991 think it’s great for rugby league that the international game is getting stronger.

But I always worry that Pacific nations, like Samoa, aren’t looked after enough by the game’s governing body, in terms of player match payments, and this could have a detrimental effect down the track.

My tips for this weekend: Australia, Country, Samoa, Tonga and PNG.

again – this is definitely what the Panthers need going forward.

Finally, I think one of the games of the weekend will be England taking on Samoa.

Samoa has named a sensational side and I wouldn’t be surprised if they beat England on Saturday night.

I like the passion of these games and I

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Friday, May 5, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

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the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 5, 2017

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Friday, May 5, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

FIRE UP THIS WINTER AT

SYDNEY’S HOME OF SPORT 07

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07

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MAY

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+/-

PTS

Storm

9

8

0

1

0

188

121

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16

2 Dragons

9

6

0

3

0

225

151

+74

12

3 Sharks

9

6

0

3

0

182

118

+64

12

4 Broncos

9

6

0

3

0

191

147

+44

12

5 Roosters

9

6

0

3

0

164

142

+22

12

6 Sea Eagles

9

5

0

4

0

216

169

+47

10

7 Eels

9

5

0

4

0

172

166

+6

10

8 Bulldogs

9

5

0

4

0

138

144

-6

10

9 Cowboys

9

5

0

4

0

169

190

-21

10

10 Raiders

9

4

0

5

0

210

159

+51

8

11 Warriors

9

4

0

5

0

146

183

-37

8

12 Titans

9

3

0

6

0

210

226

-16

6

13 Rabbitohs

9

3

0

6

0

154

225

-71

6

14 W. Tigers

9

3

0

6

0

144

226

-82

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15 Panthers

9

2

0

7

0

156

185

-29

4

16 Knights

9

1

0

8

0

130

243

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CLUB

1

FACE IN THE CROWD

GUS TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS Penrith Panthers fans have plenty of questions at the moment and Phil Gould has put his hand up to answer them.

Gould will hold a special Members Forum at Panthers Leagues Club on Monday, May 8 from 6.30pm.

Gus will respond to members’ questions that have been submitted prior to the event and, if time permits, take questions from the floor.

Only 2017 Panthers members will be allowed access to the forum – bring your 2017 Panthers membership card to gain entry.

You can submit questions at www. penrithpanthers.com.au.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 5, 2017

NRL LADDER AND FIXTURES

IS THIS YOU? Is this you at a recent Penrith Panthers game?

If it is, you’ve won a $100 JB HiFi voucher thanks to Penrith Homemaker Centre. To collect your prize, visit the Weekender office at 2/42-44 Abel Street, Jamisontown and ask for Nathan Taylor.

Extra Time Issue Number 010 PRINTED BY Spotpress Pty Ltd / PRODUCED BY The Western Weekender EDITOR Troy Dodds / 4722 2998 / troy.dodds@westernweekender.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Nathan Taylor / Jamie Soward / Andy Raymond SALES DIRECTOR Chris Pennisi/ 4722 2998 chris.pennisi@westernweekender.com.au

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Friday, May 5, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

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An attitude change is just around the corner at Penrith

andy raymond

I

s there anything better than resting the elbow on the bar, coldie in hand and talking footy? Tossing up theories. Debating. Laughing. Sledging.

Every week over winter we’ll talk winners, losers, leaders and battlers and if you’re a real footy fan then you’ll have an opinion on just about everything.

I actually reckon the best part of the game isn’t the 80 minutes on the field, it’s the time spent arguing with your mates in between the games. I love it!

However, we’ve all got that one mate.

You know the type. End of the bar, loud, never seems to leave and never wrong.

He’s about as accurate as a broken watch too… but, at least a broken watch is right twice a day! We’ve all got that one friend that comes up with outrageous statements and over the last few weeks I’ve heard some belters.

Anthony Griffin can’t coach.

Nathan Cleary can’t play.

Matt Moylan can’t captain.

What absolute garbage!

Sure, 2017 hasn’t gone to plan so far but it’s not time to panic. Not time to change a whole lot either because honestly, there’s

not all that much wrong with the football the Penrith Panthers are playing.

We tend to over analyse and complicate rugby league, it’s because so many statistics are now available. We know who is doing what, and when. We also know who’s not and can read it on our iPad as the game plays out in front of us.

There’s one statistic that cant be measured, and if I know coach Anthony Griffin as well as I think I do, it’ll be the one that he’s looking at and preparing for.

In his own understated way, his message to the players will be this, “run harder, tackle harder”. It almost sounds too simple to be right, but that’s exactly what experienced and successful coaches ask of their men when times are tough. It begins with attitude, and attitude is about ripping in.

We’ll know about their attitude after five minutes of their next game on Saturday week. You’ll see the attitude, if it’s really good you’ll almost feel it too.

Look out Warriors, I think you’ve drawn the wrong week to head out west.

The Panthers are too good a side, with too many good people to continue to struggle.

Now, I’ll let you in on a secret that you

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The student of the week is Khodi Joy. Khodi attends Oxley Park Public School and has had a very successful term with Panthers on the Prowl. He particularly enjoyed a guest visit from staff at Thermo-Fisher who provided students with lab coats, safety goggles and gloves before walking them through a science experiment. Science is an important component in our social skills curriculum at Panthers on the Prowl as it reinforces the need to take risks, test things out and accept failures as learning opportunities. Khodi was highly engaged as the students measured quantities and observed chemical reactions.

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SCOREBOARD

LOYALTY PAYS OFF

NRL BRONCOS 32 PANTHERS 18

Scott Sattler during the 2002 season TROY DODDS @troydodds

J

ust 11 fans. That’s how many people turned up to a postmatch function at Panthers Leagues Club one night back in 2002.

Coming off a wooden spoon season, the Panthers lost their opening nine matches of the 2002 season, including a 64-6 thumping at the hands of Parramatta in the opening round.

In what was John Lang’s introduction to the troubled club, it would take until round 10 before Penrith would finally put a win on the board.

Former CEO Shane Richardson remembers those 11 fans well – in fact, it was a line in the sand as far as the future was concerned.

“There was Keith Rhind the Vice Chairman of the club, myself, John Lang, Max Cowan, a few others, the players and 11 fans,” Richardson says in Men In Black.

“The night we won the Grand Final we acknowledged those 11 people... it was a bonding night.

“We didn’t know for sure that we were going to succeed in the end but we would give it our all to somehow resurrect our fortunes.”

It wasn’t that night alone, but the circumstances certainly played a part in the recipe of success that would follow the next season.

When Penrith lifted the premiership trophy at ANZ Stadium in October 2003, Richardson and many of the players must have thought back to that night and those 11 fans.

It was an indication of how far the playing group had come, and the enormous steps forward the club had taken in a short period of time.

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 5, 2017

BLAST FROM THE PAST

Another indicator was the side’s first win at home in that 2002 season. It came against Cronulla in round 11 and was very much unexpected – a 24-22 victory that delighted the 6,358 fans who turned out in wet conditions.

It was the lowest crowd of the season, but they’d witnessed the most important game. Moreso, they were the 6,358 fans who deserved the 2003 title the most.

If Penrith’s premiership success in 1991 was the result of 25 years of blood, sweat and tears, then the 2003 success was about paying back the faithful who’d sat through more than a decade of poor results. The payback was something special, and nobody will ever forget the events of October 5, 2003 and that remarkable Grand Final win.

History shows the premiership win as a shock and a surprise. To those who remained loyal during the tough times, it was a lot more than that.

HOLDEN CUP PANTHERS 44 BRONCOS 12

ISP NSW PANTHERS 28 WORKERS 12

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Friday, May 5, 2017 « the western weekender • extra time

42

CELEBRITY TIPSTERS

096

094

094

092

CC TYRES 4731 4822

GOTZINGER SMALL GOODS 4721 1611

PREMIERSHIP WINNER

ALL OFFICE BOOK KEEPING 4733 7751

MICHAEL ASHTON

BILL MCDEED

JAMIE SOWARD

CAROL COLLETTE

Australia

Australia

Australia

Kiwis

Country

Country

Country

City

090

090

090

090

LEISURE POOLS 4735 1585

ST MARYS PROFESSIONALS 9673 4422

MBR REALTY 4732 2888

FOX LEAGUE

PAUL NEWTON

TERRY HANSEN

MICHAEL BALL

ANDREW VOSS

Australia

Australia

Australia

Kiwis

Country

City

Country

Country

088

088

088

088

FUTURE FINANCIAL SERVICES 4704 8585

STANTON & TAYLOR 4731 2899

VIC’S MAXI TRANSPORT 4732 2195

TRESAMI COMPUTER ENGINEERING 4731 8444

ALEX MCKENZIE

MICHAEL TAYLOR

VICTOR GLANVILLE

LEE BANISTER

Australia

Australia

Australia

Kiwis

Country

City

Country

City

086

084

084

084

THE WESTERN WEEKENDER 47 22 2998

FOWLER AND CO 4722 3066

THE WESTERN WEEKENDER 47 22 2998

STATE PENRITH MP 4722 8660

NATHAN TAYLOR

ROSS FOWLER

TROY DODDS

STUART AYRES

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

City

Country

City

Country

084

082

082

082

HARVEY NORMAN 4737 5111

S&L CONCRETE 0411 704 302

GARTON GROUP MCDONALD’S 4721 2992

KELLY PARTNERS 4721 7433

PETER ANDERSON

SHANE MUSCAT

IAN GARTON

CHARBEL GEAGEA

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

City

Country

Country

City

080

080

080

SYNERGY FINANCIAL SERVICES 4732 6555

SUPREMACY FUNERALS 4721 2020

KEMPS CREEK CEMETERY 9826 2273

PRD NATIONWIDE PENRITH 0414 620 532

SHANAKA DE SILVA

DONNA HILDON

KIM RILEY

DARREN LATTY

Australia

Kiwis

Australia

Australia

Country

City

Country

City

078

078

076

076

CHRIS LAWLER BUILDING 0405 107 506

MACQUARIE ACCOUNTANTS 4731 5628

RAINE & HORNE COMMERCIAL 4722 8500

LOWER MOUNTAINS AIR 4735 6411

CHRIS LAWLER

CHRIS AYLING

KATE RADCLIFFE

ANTHEA STRATHDEE

Australia

Australia

Australia

Australia

Country

City

Country

City

076

072

072

068

ABL TILE AND BATHROOM CENTRE 9623 0499

HERTZ 4731 6344

VISION PERSONAL TRAINING 4742 5079

AT PRINT 4731 5055

TANYA DAVIS

TEENA EDWARDS

CHRIS GROSS

AARON TYERS

Kiwis

Australia

Kiwis

Australia

City

Country

Country

City

064

062

062

062

PENRITH HOMEMAKER CENTRE 4737 9800

HOTONDO HOMES 4751 5222

PROPERTY CENTRAL 0410 338 040

A STEP AHEAD FOOT + ANKLE CARE 4732 2007

STACEY GLANVILLE

PAUL SPICER

LEE WATERHOUSE

BRENDEN BROWN

Australia

Australia

Kiwis

Australia

City

City

City

Country

DICKIES TOWING 4736 4400

NARELLE TUBIE

Australia City

tr ivia 1. Where on the ladder did Penrith finish the 1987 season?

2. Who sponsored the Panthers for the 1994 and 1995 seasons?

3. In what year did OAK join the Panthers as a major sponsor?

4. In what year did Penrith lose to Canberra in the Grand Final?

5. What is Penrith coach Anthony Griffin’s nickname?

6. Who is the current Chairman of Panthers?

ANSWERS: 1. 12th 2. Prospect Electricity 3. 2012 4. 1990 5. Hook 6. Dave O’Neill

056

the western weekender • extra time » Friday, May 5, 2017

082

43

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